Gate-latch



No. 625,057. Ptented May :6, I899.

o. P. PERKINS.

GATE LATCH.

(Appheation filed. Mar. 18, 1899.)

(No Model.) I

NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR P. PERKINS, OF CONROE, TEXAS.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,057, dated May 16, 1899.

Application filed March 1 8, 1899.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OSCAR P. PERKINS, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Conroe, in the county of Montgomery and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Gate-Latch, of which the followingis a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in gate-latches.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of gate-latches and to provide a simple, durable, and inexpensive one designed to beapplied to gates, barndoors, and the like and adapted to operate automatically to lock a gate or door when the same is closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gate of this character which will not be affected by the sagging of a gate or door.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combinationand arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a gate-latch constructed in accordance with this invention and shown applied to a gatepost and engaging a gate. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View of the latch. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a portion of the gate and the latch-post, showing the wing or swinging member of the latch in an upright position. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 5 is a detail View of the outer end of the supporting plate or bar. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the swinging member or wing.

Like numerals of reference designatecorresponding parts in all the figures of the drawlugs.

l designates a plate or bar-designed to be secured to the inner face of a gate or latch post 2 and provided at the upper edge of its projecting outer portion with a pair of longitudinally-alined perforated ears or projections 3 and 4:, receiving a horizontal pivot or pintle 5, upon which a swinging locking member or Wing 6 is mounted. The swinging locking member or wing, which has its lower edge 7 rounded, is provided with a bore through which the pivot or pintle 5 passes, and the upper edge 8 of the projecting portion of the plate or bar 1 is inclined between Serial No. 709,625. (No model.)

the perforatedprojections or cars to support the locking member or wing at an inclination, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of-the accompanying drawings, for looking a gate 9 in its closed position.

The locking member or wing, which is slightly tapered, as shown, has a convexlycurved front edge 10, formed by rounding off the corner and beveled at the lower face, whereby it is adapted tobe automatically raised and swung backward to permit the gate to pass it. The upward or backward movement of the swinging locking member or wing is limited by a centrally-arranged lug 11, located at the lower edge of the said locking member or wing and arranged to engage a recess 12 of the plate or' bar 1. The recess 12, which is formed in the plate or bar 1, has a beveled abuttingface disposed at an inclination and adapted to permit the locking member or Wing to swing to substantially a vertical position to permit the gate to pass it, and as soon as the gate is closed the locking member or wing will return to its normal position to lock the gate. The inner edge of the locking member or wing forms a shoulder to engage the gate, and as the wing extends in an inclined position over the front face of the gate, as shown, it will be perfectly clear that no amount of sagging of the gate will affect or interfere with the operation of the gate-latch. The inner portion of the plate or bar is perforated for the reception of suitable fastening devices and is secured in a horizontal recess of the latch-post.

The invention has the following advan* tages: The gate-latch, which is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, possesses great strength and durabilityand is adapted to be readily applied to a latch-post or a door-casing and it is not affected by any amount of sagging of agate or door. The locking member or wing, which is hinged between .the projecting ears, has its back ward movement limited by the depending lug, which is received within the recess 12 and which permits the said locking member or Wing to swing upward to an approximately vertical position and insures its dropping back to its normal position as soon as the gate or door closes.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and

the minor details of construction Within the scope of the appended claim may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What is claimed is A gate-latch comprising a plate or bar provided at its outer portion with upwardly-projecting ears and beveled between the same, said plate or bar having a recess located between the ears, and a swinging locking member or wing supported by the said ears and arranged to engage the inclined upper edge of the plate or bar, whereby it is maintained OSCAR P. PERKINS.

Witnesses:

W. K. HAYNIE, J. B. ROUTT. 

